Ear receiver nipple



NOV. 3, 1931. B, FRENCH 1,830,198

' EAR RECEIVER NIPPLE Filed Aug. 21, 1930 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 3, 1931 TUNII'TED STATES PATENT OFFICE EORGE 3., FRENCH,

or SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'ro FRENCH ELECTRIC COMPANY, me, a coRroBA'rIoN-or NEW YORK EAR RECEIVER NIPPLE Application filed August 21, 1930. Serial No. 476,803.

I This improvement relates more particularly to small or midget ear receivers which are inserted directly into the outer ear and the present invention is for the purpose of preventing excessive air pressures on the ear drum or within the ear channel leading to the ear drum, such as result from vibrations of the receiver diaphragm, when the nipple tightly closes the ear channel.

Small or so-called midget ear receivers adapted to be inserted directly in the ear as an aid to people who are hard-of-hearing are, in general, not as satisfactory as larger receivers, for the diaphragm which, by its vibrations is adapted to transmit the sounds, is

so small in diameter that sufficient amplitude is not available for accurate reception. For this reason, it is highly essential that no portion of the tonal effect of thevibrating diaphragm of the midget receiver should be lost and, therefore, oneobject of the present improvement is to provide the nipple of such ear receivers with vents, such as grooves or holes or the likefor reventing excess pressure and interference o the sound waves passing from the vibrating diaphragm through the tubular nipple into the channel of the ear. This object is preferably accomplished by providing grooves along or opening through the outer periphery of the nipple adapted to prevent the latter from tightly closing the outer opening of the ear channel and thus preventing escape of the vibrating air. By means of such grooves or openings, the vibrations of the air are permitted to escape backward along the grooves or through the openings and thus relieve any excessive pressure or hammering on the ear drum such as might be annoying or injurious if the outer opening of the ear channel is closed tightly.

Another object accomplished by the vented nipple is that it prevents the drumming sound which becomes painful and disagreeable if the deaf person is required to wear the ear receiver for an extended length of time. The

V I vented ear receiver nipple permits relief of excess air pressures set up by the Vlbiittlllg.

receiver diaphragm and accordingly the inner ear will not be subject to injury from this cause.

tubular opening G in the nipple,

The improved nipple for ear receivers is more particularly shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a small or midget ear receiver with the improved nipple indicated as mounted in the ear; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of 3 of one form of the improved ear receiver nipple with longitudinal grooves; Fig. 3 is an end view of the nipple shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5, of a nipple vented with a plurality of angularly disposed tubular openings, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of the nipple shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that an ordinary midget or small ear receiver A is shown as provided with an electric cord connection B, adapted to be connected with the usual battery microphone transmitter or other suitable instrument adapted for the hard-of-hearing. These small ear receivers are provided with nipples C, which are of relatively small diameter for insertion into the outer ear D and adapted to enter or approach into approximate contact with the opening of the ear channel E, which leads to the ear drum.

The midget ear receiver, containing the diaphragm, is provided with a central boss, indicated by dotted lines at F, which is screwthreaded and the nipple C is provided with a tubular opening or hole G therethrough, which may be enlarged or counterbored, if desired, and internally threaded at H for co operation with the threads of the boss F.

The boss F is provided with an opening substantially central of the diaphragm of the receiver, this opening coinciding with the so that vibrations of the diaphragm are conducted directly into the channel E of the ear.

Obviously, if the nipple C of ther'eceiver is placed against the outer opening of the ear channel or enters theouter end thereof, as indicated in- Fig. -1 the channel will beclosed substantially air-tight and vibrations of the diaphragm of the receiver A will cause rapid alternations, increase and decrease, of the air pressure in the ear channel E, which are concentrated directly against the ear drum. As

will be permitted the grooves K and excess previously pointed out, such vibrations, when shown extending longitudinally, it is obvious' that other forms maybe usefully employed. By this means, it will be seen that even though the nipple C is inserted tightly within the outer end of the ear channel E, as indicated in'Fig. 1, the grooves K will absolutely prevent closing the channel air-tight and the sound vibrations of the receiver diaphragm or rather the air pufi's resulting therefrom, to escape outward through pressure prevented.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a slight modification is indicated wherein the tubular opening G of the nipple Cv is counter-bored or enlarged at L to form a slight compression chamber and small rearwardly directed tubular openings M are provided for venting thenipple and preventing vibrations of the receiver diaphragm producing excessive pressure on the ear drum orin the ear channel E. The holes or openings M may, of course, be of any size 7 and number and preferably, they extend at a rather sharp angle toward the rear, as indicated in Fig. 4, but this angle may be varied to suit; particular instruments or to obtain any particular results. It has been fully demonstrated and author- 1t1es agree that an ear receiver which closes up the outer ear or the ear channel leading such as would be the case 'with the nipple of the midget ear receiver.

to the ear drum,

is not approved on the ground that nature provides for access of air to both sides of the ear drum at normal atmospheric pressure.

I If either of the openings permitting this ac- I 'cess of air to both sides of the ear drum is closed, a compression chamber is formed and the sensitive inner'apparatus of the ear becomes sub ect to irregular atmospheric pressures which ultimately may result in injury "to this delicate organ.

. :N t only that, but

irregular compression of the air in the ear channel prevents proper reception and interpretation of auditory sounds, andit is the i function of such instruments to aid the hearing of the deaf or et receiver nipple extent defeats the very object to be attained.

partially deaf, and a midgnel tightly, interferes with and to a limited "In theoperation of the present improvemen-t, however, it will be seen that whenthe small orjmidget ear' 're'c'eiver, with the improved vented nipple, is employed,-- excess l 1. In a receiver havin which closes the ear ch'anpressure cannot occur or be built up in the ear channel, and the sound waves or rather the pulsing pressures therefrom, will be ermitted to escape through the grooves or openings M, and consequently pure tonal reception of the transmitted sound will be effected.

It will be understood that while preferred forms of vented nip les are here shown, it is not intended that e improvement should be limited to thespecific construction, for various modifications therein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim a diaphragm an ear receiver nipple comprlsing an elongated tubular member adapted to be secured centrally of the diaphragm for transmitting vibrations thereof into the channel of the ear,

and means associated with said tubular memberrfor venting the ear channel when the receiver is inserted in the 'ear.

2. In a receiver having a diaphragm an earreceiver nipple comprising a tubular member for directing vibrations of the diaphragm into the ear channel, said tubular member being provided with vents forming a communication between the atmosphere and the chamber at the rear of the nipple to equalize the pressure.

' 3. An ear receiver nipple as in claim 2 wherein the vents are grooves extending I longitudinally on the outer face of said tubular member.

4. An ear receiver nipple as in claim 2 wherein the vents comprise holes extending through the walls of said tubular member.

GEORGE B. FRENCH. 

